Sporting Kansas City announced on Friday that the club will partner with two USL PRO teams for the 2014 season, adding a one-year agreement with OKC Energy FC to join Orlando City SC as an official USL PRO affiliate of Sporting KC. A minimum of two Sporting Kansas City players will be loaned to each USL PRO team throughout the season as part of the agreements.

Additionally, former Sporting Kansas City captain Jimmy Nielsen will serve as the head coach of OKC Energy FC in their expansion season in 2014. Nielsen retired last week after a 19-year playing career that culminated with an MLS Cup championship at Sporting Park.

"My family and I are excited to take on this new challenge and I look forward to the start of my coaching career in Oklahoma City," Nielsen said. "To remain a part of the Sporting Kansas City family and to take some of what I have learned from all of my coaches over the years, including Peter Vermes and staff, is an opportunity I embrace."

"OKC Energy FC provides us with a great, regional partner and having Jimmy Nielsen as the head coach will give us strong insight into player development," Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. "We will continue to have our wonderful relationship with Orlando City SC and adding OKC Energy FC to next year's plan perfectly aligns us with our goal of keeping players active and ready to integrate back with our first team to contribute in all of the competitions we will play in 2014."

OKC Energy FC is owned by Prodigal LLC, led by CEO Bob Funk, Jr., and was announced as a USL PRO expansion team in July. Sporting Kansas City has played several exhibition matches in the Oklahoma City area in the team's 18-year history, including the first MLS match in the city in 2003.

"We are pleased to affiliate with Sporting KC during our first season of play," said Prodigal CEO Bob Funk Jr. "Our partnership with them in this endeavor is groundbreaking. This relationship starts with Jimmy Nielsen as our head coach and a number of quality players that Sporting KC will provide, but also extends beyond the field of play and into all of our soccer business interests for the long term."

USL PRO will feature 14 teams for the 2014 season with the addition of OKC Energy FC and Sacramento. In 2013, USL PRO and Major League Soccer began a partnership toenhance the development of professional players in North America, strengthen the competition in both leagues and establish a solid foundation for futurecollaboration.

Sporting Kansas City and Orlando City SC became affiliates in January and both clubs were crowned champions of their respective leagues in the first of a two-year partnership. Sporting Kansas City loaned six players to the Lions throughout the 2013 season, including forward Dom Dwyer who set the league's scoring record with 15 goals in 13 games and was named the USL PRO championship MVP with four goals in the final.

"As we head into our final USL PRO season in 2014, Orlando City is pleased to continue our affiliation with Sporting KC," Orlando City President Phil Rawlins said. "I firmly believe this partnership was an important part of both clubs' on-field success in winning its respective league championships last season. Orlando City is proud to be part of this terrific player development initiative jointly established by Major League Soccer and USL PRO."

Orlando City SC was awarded an MLS expansion team last month and will join Major League Soccer as the 21st club for the 2015 season.

Toronto FC are in the midst of a busy offseason, with one blockbuster deal done and another pending.

A third – one that will move the needle in a big way throughout MLS – is now reported to be complete.

ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman reported on his Twitter account on Wednesday that TFC are "on the verge" of signing US national team and AS Roma midfielder Michael Bradley. Bradley, who began his career in MLS back in 2004, has played overseas since 2006 including star turns for Heerenveen, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Chievo Verona before moving to the Eternal City 18 months ago:

Bradley, 26, has been capped 82 times for the USMNT over the past eight years, and is generally regarded as one of the most crucial players in Jurgen Klinsmann's squad. He starred under Bob Bradley, the previous USMNT head coach and Michael's father, in both the 2010 World Cup as well as the 2009 Confederations Cup and 2011 Gold Cup.

The central midfielder began his career in MLS with the MetroStars in 2004, missing his first season due to injury before winning the starting job in 2005. His tactical understanding on both sides of the ball impressed, and an offer from Heerenveen that winter saw Bradley make the move to the Netherlands.

While his European career has been a long and steady rise ever since, and he is a gameday regular for Roma, Bradley hasn't been able to nail down an everyday starting XI job for the ambitious club.

He's regularly split time in a central midfield that includes Italian legend Daniele De Rossi and Dutch international Kevin Strootman, and just this week picked up a new addition in Belgian hard man Radja Nainggolan.

Toronto FC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MLSsoccer.com.

According to ESPNFC.com, MLS is poised to sign Bradley to a contract in the five to six-year range at an annual salary in the neighborhood of $6.5 million, making him one of the highest paid players in the league. The Toronto Star reported Wednesday that the combined value of transfer fees and salaries for Bradley and Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe would reach $100 million.

There was conflicting data in terms of the transfer fee, with one overseas source indicating that Roma expects to receive $7 million. But multiple MLS sources stated that the league expects to pay in excess of $10 million.
The Reds are working on what could be the splashiest offseason in club history. Last month, they signed young Brazilian striker Gilberto to a Designated Player, then selected former captain Dwayne De Rosario in the Re-Entry Draft.

De Rosario will be re-introduced to the club in a press conference on Thursday.

So it looks like Kansas City tried to nab Micheal Bradley to the tune of $40 million dollars. Daaaammmnnnnn

"Kansas City isn’t exactly a major media market, but that didn’t stop a bullish Sporting KC ownership group from boosting their bid up to a whopping $40 million offer including salary and transfer fee contributions. It was enough to be sitting at the final table before Bradley chose TFC, which had a bigger bid and also the allure of giving Bradley a team he could help build into a winner."

So it looks like Kansas City tried to nab Micheal Bradley to the tune of $40 million dollars. Daaaammmnnnnn

"Kansas City isn’t exactly a major media market, but that didn’t stop a bullish Sporting KC ownership group from boosting their bid up to a whopping $40 million offer including salary and transfer fee contributions. It was enough to be sitting at the final table before Bradley chose TFC, which had a bigger bid and also the allure of giving Bradley a team he could help build into a winner."

If cities like Seattle, Toronto, NY and Miami get into the sport and start spending major league money, can SKC keep up or will they turn into another version of the Royals?

If cities like Seattle, Toronto, NY and Miami get into the sport and start spending major league money, can SKC keep up or will they turn into another version of the Royals?

Somewhere in between..but not in a bad way IMO.

As it is...the guys who splash the most cash are not really the ones who are Champions. You need a good team to win in MLS plain and simple. LA has been a team who has gone for big stars and had success but they have had a good team as well.

The two MLS Cup teams didn't have any HUGE stars...there can be a case made for Graham Zusi but he still isn't "that guy" especially compared to Baradley or Defoe or Keane and the like.

However I don't think they will get left behind. People who want to play in the United States want to play in Kansas City...and while we don't have spending power of LA, NY, or TFC we build great teams and we have cash to splash when needed...this ownership group has shown that especially with the them trying to grab MB even though it did not work out.